Diversity

the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc.: the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization.

Our grandson, Owen, is 3 (and 1/2, he will proudly tell you), and has friends of various ethnicities. He knows that some of his friends have darker skin than he does, and some have different shaped eyes, or hair. He also knows that they like to play on the swings, like he does; and that they know the names of all of the trucks and cars in the Cars I and Cars II movies – just like he does. They are no different than he is, really….. except some of them “talk different.” When Owen asked about that, Brian and Melissa (Owen’s parents), explained to Owen the concept of different languages. He became fascinated with them and actually created his own. He calls it the Fluenbapljetrh Language; and he will tell you that, if he is “speaking” it and you don’t understand what he is saying.

Melissa bought Owen a bilingual children’s video, hoping that he would pick up some of the Spanish words. He hasn’t quite gotten the hang of that yet though.

I was taking care of Owen earlier in this week, and as we were driving home from school, he told me about something that happened on the playground. I responded, “Holy Toledo!!” There was a moment’s silence, and then Owen replied, “I can’t say that. That’s Spanish, and I don’t speak Spanish yet.”

Karen, what an adorable story!! That is one of the reasons why we moved from Alpena, Michigan to Daytona Beach Florida back in 1982. We lived in an all white town with only 2 black children that a family had adopted. I just didn’t want my children growing up not seeing all the diversity in this wonderful world. In Daytona, they were exposed to it all and grew up having many friends of different backgrounds, just like little Owen. Yes, we can learn so much from our children!!!